We find that our faith is listed among those spiritual matters which the Lord called, “weighted matters.” Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. For it is of such great value to each individual believer as to the overcoming of the trials and afflictions, and sinful influences of the world. 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
It was by his own personal faith, granted him by God that Noah overcame the sinful influences of his world, saving his own household. Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. And as that same kind of day shall be reoccurring, it would be of great benefit to us to also maintain such constant faith! Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
And we are also warned not to allow the attitudes and enticements of the world to be of such strong influence as to be caught unaware. Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For some of the saddest words ever written are, “And knew not!” Matthew 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
There was a world wide flood which God sent upon that world. There is now a world wide pandemic of virus upon our world. The humanity of Noah’s day were only consumed with the fulfillment and satisfactions of the fleshly appetites. Matthew 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, This age is the same. There is no consideration of God and His gospel! There is no concern for spiritual maters.
Noah was sealed up from the world within the ark, awaiting God’s judgment. Genesis 7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. 10 And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. 15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.
Believers today are not only separated physically from loved ones due to the virus infections, but they have also been spiritually brought out from among unregenerate family members and neighbors. 2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
And as the ministry of Noah for 120 years went unheeded, so the true, spiritual ministry of the gospel today cannot even get some to believe in the physical infection of the virus. And the pleas for even the devout church members to seriously address their inner spiritual condition almost entirely goes unheeded! It is such an hour that even these grant no consideration! Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Church members are like the sons-in-law of Lot, whose warnings were altogether unheeded. Genesis 19:14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
Be assured of this, dear Ones, Noah’s pandemic was the exact same pandemic as is ours! Both are the pandemic of sin! Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 ¶ And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 ¶ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Pastor Gene Breed
November 30, 2020
